By Razaq Bamidele
As political discourses occupy the front burner in the country today towards the 2023 election year, various contributors to the development are already insinuating the way the pendulum of the presidential slot might likely fall. While some are pointing towards North retaining power post-2023 with the south still retaining the Vice Presidential arrangement, some are pointing fingers at the possibility of the power moving down south with the Second-in-Command (2iC), moving northward with every side having its reason.
On the power shift or rotational presidency debate, there are four ways to the argument. There is the school of thought that says, since rotational is not enshrined in the Constitution, power can go anywhere with every eligible Nigerian free to contest. Another school of thought feels that, though it is not constitutional, the principle of fair play, equity and justice should be allowed according to the gentlemanly arrange to foster peaceful co-existence in the country. The last school of thought is that, from wherever the president should come, the criteria must be based on competence, mental and physical capability and incorruptible nature of the candidate. However, the fourth category belongs to the school of a generational shift were the old hands above 60 years of age.
Right now, supposed eligible aspirants that feel that one school or the other as mentioned above have been showcasing themselves either personally or through proxies. Former Secretary to the Federal Government (SGF), distinguished Senator Anyim Pious Anyim has voiced out that, whatever happens, he will contest for President in 2023.
Also toeing Anyim’s line of action is the sitting Governor of Kogi State, Yahya Bello, who has vowed to contest 2023 for President, vowing that nobody can stop him.
On the other hand, some discussants on the matter are also already mentioning names, either directly or through parables.
Falling under this category of discussants is the former Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, who was reported to have spoken glowingly about the credibility and incorruptibility of the current Governor of Borno State and National Chairman, Caretaker Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Babagana Umara Zulum.
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Shettima was reported to have said this about his successor:
“Gov Zulum’s problem is not money.”
“I appointed him as Rector, Borno State College of Agriculture; he did not build a house of his own.
“I appointed him as Borno State Commissioner for Reconstruction which I allocated 20billion Naira to construct houses for lDPs. Zulum did not build his house but was still staying in his family house in Maiduguri!
“I was so shocked that I paid him an unscheduled visit only to confirm it was true. I made up my mind that day that, he was going to replace me but I never informed him.
“32 Borno State APC members wanted to succeed me in office; l was just laughing knowing full well that I had already chosen the most corruption-free politician I have ever seen.
“I brought the idea of him succeeding me; he vehemently rejected it and travelled out to Mecca.
He came back; I asked him again only for him to tell me he did not have money to purchase even governorship form talk more of campaigns.
“I personally purchased his nomination form and provided funds for his campaigns. Today, I’m happy because I gave Borno State the best Governor ever.”
The insinuation Shettima is trying to express, according to political observers, is Professor Zulum’s presidency in 2023.
But an analyst and Osun State-based political commentator, summing this up, decoded Shettima’s coded message thus: “Come 2023, Zulum is fit to be Vice President to somebody (down south) to give Nigeria a Government of two professors. Professor-Pastor (as President) to ‘REDEEM’(?) the country, and an incorruptible Professor-Governor as his Vice.
The analyst then tasked the people to put on their thinking cap to decode the parable of two professors forming the next Federal Republic of Nigeria’s government.
Picking up the analyst challenge, one realises that the poser he raised was a simple one to tackle. Professor Pastor in his submission fits the sitting Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, who is a Professor and frontline member of the Redeem Christian Church, while Babagana Umara Zulum, the Borno governor Kashim Shettima was referring to in his reported remarks, is also a Professor.
It could be deduced that come 2023, Osinbajo/Zulum presidency is very feasible as a perfect power ship from north to south. But, what might not likely be feasible is Zulum/Osinbajo ticket where Osinbajo would still retain his Vice President office for other four or eight years under Zulum as President!
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Though nothing is politically wrong with the two options, going by the stand of the northern youth under the umbrella of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF), with Comrade Yerima Shettima as National President on generational shift agenda, Zulum presidency (at 52), is feasible, while Osinbajo, who would be above 60 in 2023 may not be acceptable to the northern youth.
But since 24 hours is a long time in politics, anything can happen between now and 2023.